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While surfing the net (and so many stories start with way), I learned that people pronounce "almond" without the "l." (http://www.oedilf.com/db/Lim.php?Quote=24040&Popup=1) I found this was not isolated, but that my dictionary actually lists this l-less pronunciation first! And "palm" is also spoken without the "l." Any historical or geographic rhyme or reason to this?
Where the L are these missing letters going?
Steve
Amond? Eew, that sounds horribe. (get it? ha, ha) I'd rather hear the word pronounced the way a friend of mine does...al-monds (pronouncing it like a boy's name), which actually grates on my nerves. All-monds (pronouncing it like "all good boys") would be my preferred pronunciation, thank you very much!
Maybe it's not that the people aren't pronouncing the "l" in "almond," but that you're not *hearing* it! 🙂
My husband is from southern Spain where they are notorious for dropping their Ses and Ds in speech, so he always says that when northern Spaniards complain. In Spanish he would say: "No e' que no lo e'toy diciendo, e' que no lo e'ta' oyendo." Martha, you should get that. Actually, with the Ses it's true--there's a little aspiration in there if you listen carefully, so it's more like: "Como eh-tah" rather than "como e-ta."
Just thought I'd share that for the Spanish speakers here.
Steve - I imagine those "L" sounds are swimming with the fishes! (Salmon, to be exact.)
Seriously, it IS odd. Reminds me of my pal from Louisiana who knocks the L out of "gulf" and talks about how many people it takes to screw in a "light bub."
The amond thing drives me bonkers, too, although I don't have a good reason for that, except that it's not what I grew up hearing.
NO 'L'!! In the UK, a well spoken person will not pronounce the 'l' in almond, palm, alm, balm etc., but I believe Americans do, and American influence has meant that the under 18s increasinly fall into that (dare I say logical?!) trap. I'm living in Ireland now, and a lot of people sound the 'l' here so I'd say it's a national thing. Hope that helps!
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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